Fognini, Monfils through in Nice

It was a good start for Frenchman Gael Monfils, whose struggle with injury has seen his ranking plummet to No. 109 in the world after once being in the top 10. Colombia's Santiago Giraldo managed to nab the first set while Monfils struggled to find his groove.

But once he got going, the Frenchman, popular with the home crowd, he began to play the big points better. Instrumental in his win were five break points he fought off in the middle frame, keeping Giraldo at bay.

In a bizarre first-round encounter, No. 6 seed Fabio Fognini defeated countryman and qualifier Marco Cecchinato in three lopsided sets. It was Fognini's turn first to be dominated. The No. 6 seed managed to win just one game as the world No. 357 rolled to a 6-1 lead.

Fortunately for Fognini's camp, he didn't take long to wake up, and once he did, the rest of the match was a breeze. Fognini will take on Monfils in the second round.